Per European media, as the southern French fire spread quickly on strong winds, authorities evacuated nearby residents and deployed firefighting crews.

In summer the Mediterranean coast combines high heat, dryness and strong wind, creating conditions for fires to ignite and spread.

As climate change makes heat and drought more frequent, southern Europe's fires are intensifying in scale and frequency.

Authorities are using aerial and ground firefighting to halt the spread and issued evacuation orders and safety guidance to residents.

Wildfires reach beyond one area's disaster to broadly affect air quality, ecosystems and the economy; prevention and early response determine the damage.